Page 91 of Sunset Cove

Marty laughed to himself. Life had taken such a strange turn.

He was about to follow her outside when Gigi caught him.

She held up a finger. “I think I have a package for you. Hang on.”

She returned a moment later with a small box. Marty thanked her and saw it was postmarked nearly three weeks prior. Apparently, she’d forgotten it for quite some time.

It wasn’t a big deal, just some mail that his friend had sent up from his old apartment. There were a few weeks where he hadn’t gotten his mail forwarded, and he was only now catching up. He opened the box, sifting through letters from his mom, his old university, and one that he didn’t recognize.

There was no return address on the envelope, and it was addressed simply to “Marty.” He opened it and began reading the letter inside.

Dear Marty,

I caught you on the FBI’s most wanted list last month. You look so much like someone I used to know. I’m here for you if you need me. Take care and stay out of trouble.

Yours,

B

Marty didn’t know anyone who went by the initial B.

Claire caught his eye and walked over.

“Are you coming outside?” she asked cheerfully.

“Yeah. I just need to put this in my car.”

Claire leaned forward to see what was in his hands, but Marty folded the letter and put everything back in the box.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Nothing, just some old mail.” He smiled. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

She nodded and went outside.

Marty felt bad hiding the letter from her, but he didn’t want to freak her out. Ever since he’d been on the FBI’s most wanted list, he’d developed a weird sort of fan club.

There weren’t many people in this club, but they were passionate. They sent letters to any address they could find for him – his old college, SureFired’s office, even the library near his apartment.

It was bizarre. The letters had everything from offers to hide him to offers to marry him. He’d become a minor celebrity, like prisoners sometimes were. One woman declared she was a spy and that she’d happily smuggle him out of the country.

Marty had no time for these shenanigans. Luckily, none of them had found his address on Orcas Island yet. He intended to keep it that way.

He walked out to his car and read the letter again. It made him feel more queasy than the others. He wasn’t sure why. Perhaps because this person didn’t ask for anything? They just wanted to say hello.

Of course, the letter B made him think of Becca. But that was impossible. It was just another looney letter. He’d add it to the pile and move on with his life.

Marty threw the letters into the passenger seat of his car and locked the door. He wasn’t going to miss Lucy hopping around the grounds for anything.